Fruit picker



Oct. 22, 1935.

P. P. MOGNET ET AL FRUIT PICKER Filed sept. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffg Inventors ZZ fizeuzayj@ l 'Byw Attomey Oct. 22, 1935.l

P. P. MOGNET El' AL FRUIT PICKER Filed Sept. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors' Y Attomey Patented Oct. 22, 1935 PATENT OFFICE FRUIT PICKER Peter P. Mognet and Jacob G. Dumbauld, Somerset, Pa.

Application September 25, 1934, Serial No. 745,466

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a fruit picker, and has as its object the provision of a picker of the type equipped with pivoted jaws cooperable for picking the fruit from the limbs of the tree together with a bag arranged relative to the jaws for receiving the fruit as it is packed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved jaw structure for a fruit picker of the character suggested.v

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a picker characterized by economy in construction as well as durability and efficiency in operation.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the picker.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the picker taken at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the jaw operating rod and associated parts.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the manner of securing the cage to the handle of the device.

Figure 5 is a detail view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be seen that the picker comprises a tubular handle 5 which may be of any suitable length and formed from any suitable material. A cone 6 of metal or other suitable material is formed with an integral pin 1 that fits snugly within one end of the handle 5 as shown in Figure 4.

The cone 6 forms part of a cage indicated generally by the reference numeral 8. The cage 8 comprises a pair of opposed sides 9 and I0 respectively and each of these sides are formed from a single length of wire, copper, or other suitable material bent to provide a substantially oval shaped structure as suggested in Figure 2, the ends of the rods being secured to the cone 6 by rivets or in any other suitable manner as indicated at II. At the upper portions thereof the sides 9 and I Il are provided with reverse bends I2 forming in the upper portion of each of the sides members a crotch I3 adapted to accommodate the stem or branch of the tree.

The sides 9 and Ill of the cage 8 are connected by rods I4 to Whih are pivoted substantially U-shaped jaws I5 and I6 respectively. Each of the jaws I5 and I6 is formed from a single length of wire, copper or other suitable material that is bent into U form and has the ends thereof disposed about the rods I4 in a manner to pivotally connect the jaws with the rod. One of the jaws as clearly shown in Figure 1, the jaw I 5, is slightly wider than the other of the jaws, namely the jaw I6. Completing the cage structure are side straps l1 that are riveted or otherwise secured at one end to the cone 6 and at a relatively opposite end' suitably secured to the rods I4.

The jaws I5 and I6y intermediate their ends are provided with rods I8 with which are pivotally engaged links. i9. that are also pivotally connected to a head 201 provided on one end of the jaw operating` rod 2|.

The rod 2| is slidably accommodated in the handle 5 and at its free end the rod 2 Il is suitably bent to provide a roller equipped hand grip 22 2 and an extension 23. The extension 23 operates in a guide sleeve 24 secured to a band 25 embracing the lower portion of the handle 5. The guidei sleeve 24 is preferably formed integral with the band 25.

At the upper end thereof the rod 2| has a flattened portion to which the head 2Il is secured and at the lower end of the flattened portion of the rod is a stop flange or collar 26 that is adapted to engage the bottom of the cone 6 when the 3 rod 2| is pulled through the handle 5 in a direction for moving the jaws I5 and 6 inwardly towards one another to engage therebetween the stem-of the fruit for the picking of the fruit from the tree. 3

A fabric bag 21 of a type usually used in conjunction with jaw equipped pickers has the mouth thereof secured to the side IIl of the cage by a lacing 28. The bag 21 is also held substantially parallel to the handle 5 through the medium of retaining rings 29 engaged with the bag in any suitable manner and slidably embracing the handle 5. A

A split clamping band 30 is also provided and embraces the upper portion of the handle 5 for contracting said handle about the pin 1 of the cone 6, it being noted that the ends of the` 'rod from which the side 9 of the cage is formed extend along a portion of the handle 5 and are clamped by band 30.

To protect the fruit against bruising, the 'w wires or the like which form the members 9, I0, I1, I5, and I6, as well as the link I9 are covered or encased by a sheathing 3| of rubber Or other suitable material.

It will be apparent that in use the branch of Y secured at one end to said truste-'conicalmem-VV the tree or bush is accommodatedin the crotches I3 of the sides 9 and I0. Byrgripping the grip 22, the operator pulls down on the rod 2| causing the jaws I5 and I6 to move inwardly towards one another to engage the stem of the fruit in a manner to pick the fruit from the branch.

VrThe fruit thus picked will fall into the bag 21.

ber, said side members having free ends provided Withrcrotch portions for straddling a branch of Vaftree, a pair of cooperating jaws plvoted betweenthe side members on shafts disposed at right angles to the sidev members, and means for swinging said jaws into open andY closed positions including a rod slidably engaged with said Y Y2.V A fruit picker comprising a tubular handle,

a substantially frusto-conical member having an integral pin fitting within one end of the handle,

a cage including a'pair of Yside members secured Vat one endY to said Yfrusto-conical member, said side members having free ends providedwith crotch portions for straddling a branch of a tree, a pair ofY cooperating jaws pivoted'between the` side members on shafts disposed at right anglesto the side members, an operating rod for the jaws slidable through Vsaid handle, a head on one endrof said rod, links pivotally connecting said head andjaws for transmitting move` ment of the rod to the jaws, and a hand grip on the free end of the saidrod.

3. AV fruit picker comprising a tubular handle, Y a substantially frusto-conical member having an integral pin tting within one end of the handle, a cage including a pair of side members secured at one end to said frusto-conical member,'said side members having `Vfree ends provided with crotch portions for straddling a branch of a tree; Y a pair of cooperating jaws pivoted between the side members on shafts disposed at right angles Vto the side members, an operating rod for the jaws slidable through said handle, a head on one end of said rod, links pivotally connecting said head and jaws 'for transmitting movement of the rod to the jaws, landV said rod at its free end being reversely bent toprovide a lateral hand grip and an integral guide, and a sleeve on said handle in which said guide operates.

4. A fruit picker comprising a tubular handle. a, substantially frusto-conical member having an integral pin tting within one end of the handle, a cage including a pair of side members secured at one end to said frusta-conical member,v said side members having free ends provided with crotch portions for straddlinga branch of aV tree, a pair of cooperating jaws pivoted between 2s Y the side members on shafts disposed at right angles to the side members, an operating rod'for the jaws slidable through said handle, `a Vheadr'on one end of said rod, links pivotally connecting said head and jaws for transmittingY movement 3o of the rod to thejaws, and said rod at its free end Y Y being reversely bent to provide a lateral hand grip and an integral guide, a sleeve on said handle in which said guide operates, and a bag secured at its mouth to one of the side members of said cage, and means securing the Ybag atV spaced intervals to said handle. Y

PETER P. MOGNET; JACOB G. DUMBAULD. 40 

